Omaha is facing a loss of talented employees and a mis-match of education versus job needs that is affecting our employment market. Omaha is not attracting or retaining employees for a variety of reasons. This issue is causing both short and long-term concerns from key organizations such as the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce, the Heartland 2050 project, and the Greater Omaha Young Professionals. Local organizations recognize that a meeting needs to be dedicated to this topic, key players identified, and action items designated. More

Purpose
Omaha is a city rich with character and historic architecture. Although there is a wide range of parties invested in building Omaha’s future, these stakeholders struggle to find a common vision for the city’s historic buildings. Tension from past debates and decisions has a significant impact on current discussions. We hope to lay the groundwork for deeper relationships and more positive communication on historic preservation options in the development process. An environment of communication and mutual respect will support a well-balanced vision of the city’s future that retains its unique identity. More

I was a guest facilitator at a Heartland 2050 vision committee meeting. This was an opportunity to experience facilitating a meeting that another person had designed and set up. I would also discover the benefits and challenges of facilitating someone else’s meeting. More

Important government, business, and community services are increasingly available exclusively or, most conveniently, online. These services are easy to access for people who possess the necessary equipment and technology skills. However, the people who need these services the most are often the ones least equipped to access them. By creating conditions that make it easier for people to access online services we can ensure that people will be able to access the services they need. More

Joanne Ferguson Cavanaugh, Megan Klein-Hewett, and I conducted a facilitated discussion on prisoner reentry at the Benson Branch Library on Thursday, April 10, 2014. Our project proposal describes the meeting’s purpose and goal:

Nebraska state prisons are 53% over capacity. Proposed legislation to lessen this overcrowding would result in more former convicts reentering the community. While many groups are working to address the impact and needs of ex-inmates, there is no nexus for reentry information and services. Uniform access to services and increased communication between service providers will lessen the duplication of services and allow service providers to strengthen their services, leading to more positive reentry outcomes. This will strengthen the Omaha community by reducing unemployment and recidivism and strengthening families.

When we looked at the ACS (American Community Survey) 5-year estimates, Omaha’s unemployment rate is highest east of 72nd Street. Eight zip code areas are above the national unemployment rate of 6.7%. Many areas are two or even three times higher than Omaha’s unemployment rate of 4.0 %. We hope to identify issues that prevent the unemployed from finding jobs and work towards a better economy for Omaha east of 72nd Street. More